1 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. distributed     B. localize       C. broadcast     D. briefing       E. attached       F. existing       G. boost H. emerging       I. involved       J. crack            K. response

Chip flow interrupted

A stable global supply chain of chips had been maintained before disruptive moves by the US.

Two of the US’ top chipmakers—NVIDIA and AMD-were ordered to stop exports of two high-end chips to China on Aug 31. The ban     1     sophisticated (精密的) chips for graphics processing units (GPUs); which have been widely used in applications including AI and creative production.

This came after US President Joe Biden signed an order to pass the $52.7 billion (about 369.5 billion yuan) semiconductor chip manufacturing subsidy (补贴) and research law on Aug 25.

It aims to     2     efforts to “make the United States more competitive with China’s science and technology efforts”, Reuters noted.

Biden also signed the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 into law on Aug 9. According to the act, chip makers that shift their factories to the US can receive subsidies and tax benefits with     3     conditions that restrict US companies from increasing investments in China for 10 years.

“The US and its allies,” Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google and a financier for the Bill Clinton, Obama and Biden presidential campaigns, said in March, “should utilize targeted export controls on high-end semiconductor manufacturing equipment... to protect     4     technical advantages and slow the advancement of China’s semiconductor industry”.

In     5     to the US latest act, Woo Jin-hoon, a guest professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, wrote for China Daily, this is “a move that can be profitable for the US in the short term, but harmful in the long run”.

The design, manufacturing and even raw materials of a complete and complex product like semiconductors (especially chips) are usually     6     across many different countries and regions, forming a huge trade network.

No matter how hard countries or regions try to support their own manufacturing bases and     7     their production, a certain degree of interdependence among countries and regions is unavoidable, China Daily commented.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Sept 1 at a press     8     that the US move is typical “sci-tech hegemony (霸权)”.

“With its technological advantages, the US has abused the concept of national security and its state power to     9     down on the development of     10     economies and developing countries,” said Wang. “The move violates market economy principles, harms international economic and trade orders and disrupts the stability of global industrial and supply chains.”

2 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word given in the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word that you do not need.

A. territories     B. fuelled     C. ease     D. response     E. commercial     F. target G. consequences   H. opposition     I. approval     J. subscribe     K. property

Beijing angry over Seoul’s missile plan

South Korea’s Lotte Group has approved a land exchange with the government. According to the country’s defence ministry, the     1     will enable the authorities to deploy(部署) a controversial US missile defence system. The military said last week that it would soon begin area patrols and install fences.

The South Korean government decided last year to deploy the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence(THAAD) system in     2     to the North Korean missile threat. The system will be deployed on land that is part of a golf course owned by Lotte in Seongju County. A military official said last month that the deployment could be completed by August.

South Korean government officials have said that THAAD is a defensive measure against North Korean threats and does not     3     any other country. However, THAAD has a powerful radar and is capable of penetrating(穿透) the     4     of China and Russia. Beijing has said that the defence system will do nothing to     5     the tension between South Korea and North Korea. It would only be a threat to China’s security.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang repeated China’s     6     to the deployment of THAAD during a daily news conference last week. He called on South Korea and the United States not to go ahead. “China will take necessary steps to protect its security interests,” Geng added, without giving details. “All the     7     of that are the responsibility of South Korea and the United States.”

The Lotte Group said earlier last month that Chinese authorities had stopped construction on a multibillion-dollar     8     project in China. Meanwhile, South Korea’s central bank said the number of Chinese tourists visiting the island of Jeju had fallen 6. 7% over the Lunar New Year holiday from last year. These have     9     concern in South Korea that the THAAD deployment decision will damage the country’s     10     ties with the world’s second-largest economy.

3 . Complete the passage with the phrases below in their proper forms.

beautiful modern road             a chorus of             dusty track             straight towards a large amount of investment            with dangerous disease

China has offered     1    to many countries in its Belt and Road Initiative. In the Congo, many     2     have been transformed into     3     since then. Trains run     4     Europe from China, and to China from Europe, bringing new jobs and opportunities to both ends. Chinese healthcare workers have also been sent to provide aid to places     5    . Despite all the difficulties involved in this project, these efforts have been greeted with     6    support from the locals.

4 . Complete the announcements with the correct forms of the verbs in the box. Then read them aloud.

prohibit            expect            set to            make sure          fasten             make             stow        switch off

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight SP432 from Beijing to Hong Kong. We are currently third in line for take-off and     1    to be in the air in about ten minutes. At this time, your portable electronic devices must    2     “flight mode” or    3     until an announcement     4    upon arrival. Smoking     5     throughout the flight. Thank you for your cooperation. Enjoy your flight!

…

Ladies and gentlemen, as we start our descent, please    6     your seats and tray tables are in their full upright position. Make sure your seat belts are securely     7    and all carry-on luggage    8     underneath the seats in front of you or in the overhead bins. Thank you!